AU says south Sudan’s referendum peaceful conducted
January 14, 2011 (BOR) – The African Union (AU) delegation that visited Bor on Friday congratulated referendum officials in Jonglei state for the “high level of organization” that had attracted voters to turn-out in large numbers in a peaceful atmosphere.
Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, the head of AU Union High Penal (AUHP) for the Sudan, toured two polling centers and commends the peaceful atmosphere here.
“It is quite clear that the population in Jonglei state responded very well to the call that they must go out and vote,” said the former South African president at a press briefing after meeting State high committee (SHC) for the referendum and Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang.
Accompanying Mbeki is former Burundian President, Pierre Buyoya, and former Nigerian president Abubakar Abdul Salami Alhaji.
“There was high level of organization at polling centers up to the state high committee. We really want to say congratulations to everybody involved in the process,” said Mbeki.
Mbeki praise the “peaceful conditions” in which the polls are being conducted and added that “it enabled every[one] to express their view freely. Nobody can say I was forced to take vote like this or vote like that.”
“The atmosphere is [for]…free and fair referendum. That [peaceful] atmosphere has being achieved,” he said.
Voting for the south’s week-long independence referendum ends on Sunday 15 January.
The latest voter turn-out figures released by Jonglei SHC on Friday indicate that 83.3% of registered voters have cast a ballot.
The South Sudan Referendum Act requires 60% of registered voters to vote for the exercise to be valid. This has already been achieved according to the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission.
At least 50%+1 of voters must choose either unity or secession for there to be a result.
Opinions polls overwhelming suggest that southerners will choose to separate from the north. The self-determination vote is a result of a 2005 north-south peace accord that ended two decades of civil war where 2 million people were killed.
(ST)